A significant snowstorm that will develop after Thanksgiving is expected to bring significant impacts to millions of Americans trying to return home from their holiday plans. Those across the high Plains, upper Midwest and Great Lakes should be on alert for heavy snow that will disrupt travel.
A large winter storm that could bring some of the biggest snow of the season to the Central U.S. and Rockies is likely to significantly impact travel plans for millions of people returning home from their Thanksgiving holiday.
The FOX Forecast Center said a dip in the jet stream combined with arctic air in the northern tier of the U.S. will help spawn an area of low pressure across the central Rockies and Plains by the weekend, bringing snow Friday into early Saturday.
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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – FEBRUARY 12: People visit the Cloudgate sculpture as a winter storm passes over the city on February 12, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.
( Scott Olson / Getty Images)
Several inches of snow are expected in higher elevations of the Rocky Mountains, and Denver is expecting 1–3 inches of snow by Monday, breaking a 200+ day streak with no snowfall.
In the Midwest, 5–8 inches of snow will fall across parts of Iowa, southern Wisconsin and Illinois.
WEST DES MOINES, IOWA – JANUARY 13: Motorists navigate through blowing snow during a cold windy day on January 13, 2024 in West Des Moines, Iowa.
(Scott Olson)
Cities like Des Moines, Milwaukee, Chicago and Madison, Wisconsin, are likely to see significant snowfall.
Locally higher amounts of snow are possible, especially around the Great Lakes, the FOX Forecast Center said.
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As people begin returning home from their holiday plans starting Friday, snow could lead to travel issues at major airports like Chicago O’Hare and Midway, Milwaukee Mitchell International and Detroit Metropolitan.
Travel impacts could last through Monday.
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To the south gusty winds, heavy rain and thunderstorms are also possible on the warmer side of this system.
Heavy rain could move through already-drenched areas of the South, in cities like Dallas, Nashville and Little Rock, Arkansas.
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A level 1 out of 4 flash flood risk has already been issued across eastern Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana into Saturday as this sprawling storm pushes east. A widespread 1-2″ of rain is possible through Sunday.
Pre-Thanksgiving storm prompts blizzard warnings, dangerous conditions
Meanwhile, another winter storm is causing Blizzard Warnings to be issued across the Upper Midwest, delivering what will be a back-to-back punch of winter weather come Friday.
Blizzard Warnings in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan persist through Friday.
(FOX Weather)
As of Wednesday morning, more than 1,100 flights across the U.S. were delayed or disrupted in some way by this winter storm, according to FlightAware.
Snow totals across parts of North and South Dakota reached 8–12 inches by Wednesday morning.
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When it comes to the post-Thanksgiving storm, forecast models remain uncertain about which areas are likely to see the most amount of snow for now, but as Thanksgiving nears, things will become clear.
